Rudolph de Harak, also Rudy de Harak (April 10, 1924 – April 24, 2002), was an American graphic designer. De Harak was notable as a designer who covered a broad spectrum of applications with a distinctly modernist aesthetic. He was also influential as a professor of design.
De Harak was born in Culver City, California. After serving in World War II, de Harak was influenced by two lectures given by Will Burtin and György Kepes which compelled him to pursue graphic design. Along with Saul Bass, Alvin Lustig and others, de Harak helped found the Los Angeles Society for Contemporary Designers before he moved to New York to become art director for Seventeen for just 18 months [1]. At the same time, de Harak drew illustrations for Esquire and soon began his long tenure in teaching [2]. De Harak served "as the Frank Stanton Professor of Design, for a quarter century at the Cooper Union, and visiting professor at Yale, Alfred University, Parsons, Pratt Institute and other schools." [3]
De Harak is a member of the 1989 Hall of Fame of the Art Directors Club [4]. He was the recipient of a 1992 AIGA Medal.